Pico Sacro ("Holy Peak" in Galician) is a summit in the central

Galician Massif The Galician Massif or Galician-Leonese Massif (, also known as ''Macizo Galaico-Leonés'') is a system of mountain ranges in the northwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located in Galicia with its southeastern end reaching into the pr ...

and the municipality of Boqueixón. In antiquity it was known as Mount Ilicino, and features a hermitage, a cave, the remains of a

medieval castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This i ...

and a

triangulation station A triangulation station, also known as a trigonometrical point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity. The station is usually set up by a map ...

. The mountain rises and is known for its unique shape and a legend about the Apostle James. A deep and narrow cave sits just below the peak, and legend places a dragon there protecting one of the entrances to hell.

Background

Galician mythology Galician mythology comprises a collection of related and unrelated myths forming part of the traditional Galician culture, culture of the Galician people. Legend identifies Breogán, a mythical Celtic king, as the founder of the Galician nation. ...

Queen Lupa Queen Lupa (also known as Raíña Lupa, Raíña Lopa, Raíña Luparia, Raíña Luca and Raíña Loba) is a character from Galician mythology. She is mentioned in both the ''Codex Calixtinus'' and the ''Golden Legend'' involving the translation of ...

sent the disciples of the Apostle James, Theodore and Athanasius, to Pico Sacro to collect her oxen to help build a tomb for the apostle. Lupa did not tell them that there was a cave with an entrance to Hell, and that a

dragon A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...

lived there. The faith of the disciples protected them from the dragon and tamed the oxen. The Camino Sanabrés, a branch of the Way of Saint James, passes by the foot of the mountain originating in

Granja de Moreruela Granja de Moreruela is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census ( INE), the municipality has a population of 337 inhabitants. Background The Camino Sanabrés, a branch of the Way of ...

. The crest of the mountain is divided by a deep trench known as the "Rúa da Raíña Lupa" (English: Queen Lupa's path). The origin of the gap is unknown; it may be a natural fissure, or the result of mining performed by the Romans. Fanciful tales attribute the cut to Queen Lupa or the sword of a

Titan Titan most often refers to: * Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn * Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology Titan or Titans may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional entities Fictional locations * Titan in fiction, fictiona ...

. Historian hypothesized that the trench could have been used as a moat for the castle on the summit. The Benedictine Monastery of San Sebastián was built below the mountain's peak at the beginning of the 10th century by Sisnando I, bishop of Iria Flavia. The monastery was later dismantled by Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca to build a castle. The was built in the

Early Middle Ages The Early Middle Ages (or early medieval period), sometimes controversially referred to as the Dark Ages (historiography), Dark Ages, is typically regarded by historians as lasting from the late 5th to the 10th century. They marked the start o ...

near the top of the mountain, replacing a small chapel near the Monastery of San Sebastián. In the 15th century this fortress was destroyed during the Irmandiño revolts, but was later rebuilt by Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca to defend against the House of Altamira.

Veneration

When an epidemic of Saint Anthony's fire was raging in Galicia, those afflicted would to go to the mountain and, after making an offering of bread at the summit, pray the following prayer: :Holy Peak, Holy Peak, :consecrated by the blessed Saint James, :deliver me from this angry fire, :through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, :and Our Father and a Hail Mary. Or, simply: "Sacred Peak, Sacred Peak, heal me from the malady that consumes me.Pico Sagro, Pico Sagro, que te consagróu o bendito Sant-Iago, líbrame deste fogo airado, pola intercesión de la Virgen María, un Padre-nuestro e un Ave María. Ou, simplemente: "Pico Sagro, Pico Sagro, sáname do mal que eu trago." The academic

Vicente Risco Vicente Martínez Risco Agüero (October 1, 1884 – April 30, 1963) was a Galician intellectual of the 20th century. He was a founder member of Xeración Nós, and among the most important figures in the history of Galician literature. He is ...

believes that this prayer dates from the 13th century, and notes that it is not addressed to any saint, but to the mountain itself as if it could hear and heal the person making the prayer.

Gallery

File:Pico Sacro. Boqueixon. 01.jpg, View of Pico Sacro File:Pico Sacro. Boqueixon. 02.jpg, View of Pico Sacro File:Pico Sacro. Boqueixon. 03.jpg,

atop Pico Sacro File:Pico Sacro - 02 - Panorama polar.jpg, Polar panoramic from the top of Pico Sacro File:Mapa da translaçom em Historia del Apostol de Iesus Christo Sanctiago Zebedeo (1610).jpg,

1610 Some have suggested that 1610 may mark the beginning of the Anthropocene, or the 'Age of Man', marking a fundamental change in the relationship between humans and the Earth system, but earlier starting dates (ca. 1000 C.E.) have received broa ...

- Map of the Jacobean legend in Historia del Apostol de Iesus Christo Sanctiago Zebedeo File:Rúa da Raíña Lupa en Pico Sacro.jpg, Queen Lupa's path File:Pico Sacro - Cova - Cueva - Cave - 01.jpg, Pico Sacro cave File:Capela de San Sebastián do Pico Sacro.jpg, Church of San Sebastián do Pico Sacro

Notes

References

Bibliography

* *{{cite book , last=Risco , first=Vicente , author-link=Vicente Risco , title=Etnogrfia: Cultura espritual , publisher= Akal , series=Historia de Galiza , volume=I , date=1962 , pages=255–777 , location=Buenos Aires , editor=Ramon Otero Pedrayo Galician Massif Mountains of Galicia (Spain)